Unit 5 Quiz

When studying art from long ago, it’s tough to determine how and why a piece of art was created. However, there is more information about ancient art than there is about prehistoric art. Why is information more prevalent when it comes to ancient art?

•   The cultures who created ancient art recorded their history in writing. 

  
  

•  Ancient art is more entertaining to look at than prehistoric art. 

  
  

•   Archaeologists find more value in studying ancient times than prehistoric times.

•   Most of the prehistoric writing was destroyed before anyone could read about the meaning of their artwork.

While your class is touring a museum, the tour guide tells you that much of prehistoric art remains a mystery, but he can tell you a lot more about ancient art. Why is there more information available about ancient art than prehistoric art?

• Ancient art is more valuable than prehistoric art, so people spend money to further research the pieces.

• The greater amount of remains and ruins belonging to ancient societies help piece together the function and meaning of the art.

•   Archaeologists find more value in studying ancient times than prehistoric times.

• The prehistoric cultures recorded their history in writing that no one can comprehend. 

  
  

After studying both prehistoric and ancient art, your classmate Rachel is determined that these two types of art have absolutely nothing in common. You tell her that you have noticed some similarities. What could you tell her to support your argument that prehistoric and ancient art have some things in common?

•   Both have a written history that was left behind by various cultures that help explain the pieces.

• Both types of art originated in Mesopotamia, the “cradle of civilization.”

• Both have pieces that were made of durable materials.

•   Both use the process known as red-figure style.

After studying both prehistoric and ancient art, your classmate Nathaniel is determined that these two types of art are almost exactly the same. You tell him that you have noticed many differences. What could you tell him to support your argument that prehistoric and ancient art have differences?

•  Prehistoric art features red-figure style; ancient art features black-figure style.

• In prehistoric art, artists occupied roles as laborers producing a product; artists in ancient times were celebrated for their roles as creators of beautiful objects. 

  
  

• Animals were present in ancient art; in prehistoric art, animals were absent.

•  Ancient architectural structures were built on a much grander scale than the structures of prehistoric societies.

When archeologists discover works of art in ruined temples and other religious sites, what makes this artwork so special?

• This work is likely to give us more information about what ancient people believed and how they practiced religion. 

• This work is likely to be more valuable if it were sold in an auction house than if it were found in a palace.

• This work is likely to contain writing from prehistoric times. 

• This work would likely not have been touched by other people because they would have respected the sanctity of the area.

Your friend Ashanti thinks it is incredible that works of art have survived from prehistoric and ancient times. She asks you how it is even possible to see works of art from so long ago. How would you explain to Ashanti how these works of art have survived for such a long time?

•  The climate was different; there was no risk of disastrous weather to ruin the pieces. 

  
  

•   The artwork was made of stone, metal, and gems, which were very durable.

• The prehistoric and ancient civilizations housed their artwork in protected areas so it would last longer.

• The art was held in areas of the world that were free from war, so very few pieces were destroyed in battles.

Your classmate Anton wants to do a research project about the cultures in Mesopotamia. He wants to learn more about the “cradle of civilization.” He asks you which group of people he should study. Which civilization would help him better understand Mesopotamia?

• Chinese

• Greeks

• Sumerians

• Romans

Your classmate Marta has talked to many people to learn more about the Sumerians. She tells you that she has heard a lot of information about the Sumerians but is having trouble sorting out the truth about their civilization. Which of the following things she heard can you verify is true?

•  The Tower of Babel, created by the Sumerians, can be visited today in modern-day Turkey.

• he Sumerians used stone for most of their artwork.

• We have more art available from the Sumerians than from the ancient Egyptians of the same period.

•   The Sumerians gave rise to the earliest examples of writing in cuneiform on clay tablets.

Although the Sumerians gave rise to the earliest examples of writing in cuneiform on clay tablets, we have less art available from this culture than from the ancient Egyptians of the same period. How is this possible?

•  The clay bricks and mud the Sumerians used as building materials were not very durable.

• The stones the Sumerians used to build with were later stolen by other civilizations.

• Most of the pieces of Sumerian art were stolen from the National Museum of Iraq in 2003.

•  All of the Sumerian art pieces were kept in the Tower of Babel, which eventually burned to the ground.

Your friend William asks you about The Tower of Babel. He has read about it in the Bible and wants to go see it someday. What would you tell William about this piece of Sumerian architecture?

•   It was actually built by the Greeks.

•  It was destroyed, so he cannot visit it.

•   It has been relocated to Egypt.

•   It only allows a limited number of visitors each year.